Help and Support
Energy Support Scheme – *NEW* Alternative Funding & Alternative Fuel Payments
The government has announced two new schemes available from February 2023, for those households who are not entitled to the £400 discount via the Energy Support Scheme. The first is a one-off payment of £400 for UK households who are not on a domestic electricity contract such as park home residents, households with a communal electricity supply, self-funded care home residents or houseboats, further information can be found here. The second is a one-off payment of £200 to UK households who are not on the mains gas grid and therefore use alternative fuels, such as heating oil, to heat their homes and further information on this can be found here.
Please share this information with friends and family who may be eligible.
Cost of Living available Support from Calderdale Council
Many more people than ever before are experiencing money worries with the increased cost of living. Calderdale Council’s Money & Wellbeing web pages are updated regularly and cover all money related matters.
Whether you are looking for help with bills, budgeting tips, benefits calculators or information about Government schemes, you can find it all here in one place.
Visit calderdale.gov.uk/mwic call 01422 288005 or scan the QR code for more information.
Macmillan Grants to help with the extra cost of living with cancer
A cancer diagnosis has a huge financial burden, with many people facing extra and often unexpected costs. For example, people living with cancer face higher energy bills as they go through treatment as it’s harder to keep warm, and there is often additional costs associated with getting to and from appointments.
The cost of living has reached its highest level in decades and many people living with cancer are really worried about the spiralling costs of energy bills, food prices, rail fares and fuel. This is on top of the expected financial and emotional pressures of a cancer diagnosis.
Macmillan Grants are a one-off payment of £350 to help with the extra costs that living with cancer can bring.
They can be used to help with things like:
- energy bills
- home adaptions
- cost of travel to and from hospital
- any extra costs you might have because of cancer.
You can call Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 and talk to the Welfare Rights team about Macmillan Grants. You can speak with the Welfare Rights team:
• Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm
• Saturday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm
Criteria
Both of the following must also apply:
• You have no more than £6,000 in savings for a household of one person or no more than £8,000 for a household of two or more people.
• You have a weekly income of no more than £323 per week for a household of one person or no more than £442 per week for a household of two or more people.
We do not count Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance (AA) when we work out your weekly income.
Please contact Macmillan Cancer Support if you have any questions
Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00
OUR NEWS Neighbourhood Watch newsletter – February 2023 Edition
OUR NEWS – Neighbourhood Watch national newsletter for England and Wales
Click here to open the newsletter
We are delighted to bring you February’s edition of OUR NEWS – our newsletter for Neighbourhood Watch supporters across England and Wales.
This edition includes advice on how to steer clear of romance fraud this Valentine’s Day, as well as three major cybercrime predictions for 2023, and details of a new app for reporting hate crime against the LGBTQ+ community. It also features tips for bringing your community together – from how to organise a street party for the King’s Coronation, to how to recognise and celebrate those that go above and beyond in their communities.
As well as warning of the risks of not using a qualified plumber, it includes information on how to let fresh air into your home, whilst keeping opportunistic intruders out.
We hope you enjoy this edition as much as we enjoyed creating it.
Follow us.. ourwatch.org.uk / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn
Neighbourhoood Watch Network is a charity registered in England & Wales, CIO no: 1173349
Funding Opportunities for VCS Organisations by February 20th
Community Foundation for Calderdale would like to announce two available funding options become available for Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations across Calderdale.
Prince of Wales Charitable fund Grants up to 15K – Apply by February 20th
Grants of up to £15k are available from The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund (PWCF) for organisations especially for projects in Education, Health and Wellbeing, Environment, Countryside, Social Inclusion, Heritage and Conservation. You need to apply by 20th February 2023. For more info, visit https://www.pwcf.org.uk/
Calderdale Cares grants up to £5K / £10K for VCS – Apply by February 23
Grants of up to £5k or £10k are available for VCS organisations to apply for who support residents in Calderdale to improve their health and wellbeing. Calderdale Cares Partnership has created a £180,000 fund which is being administered by the Community Foundation for Calderdale (CFFC).
Visit https://cffc.co.uk/vcs-support-fund/ for more info and to apply.
Project Colt offering Warm Space facilities Monday – Saturday
Project Colt/Colt Enterprise are now a registered Warm Space.
If you are finding it difficult to warm your home, you are more than welcome to come to us.
We have free wifi, Barista made hot drinks and a lovely and cosy ready corner.
You can find us Monday to Saturday from 8:00am – 17:30pm
Come along and see what else there is available for you!
Project Colt : Bridgefield Mills, Elland Bridge, Elland, West Yorkshire, HX5 0SG
Greener Together short walks for women in 2023. Connect with the environment, meet new people.
Greener Together will deliver further Sustainability Workshops and Walks for Women from the WomenCentre in Halifax starting January.
Sustainability Workshops
Information on Workshops 2023 (PDF)
The team will be delivering short walks, taster sessions and short courses aimed at advising women who may be on limited incomes, how to approach living more sustainably. They will be introducing sustainability and making it more relevant on a day-to-day basis, looking at reducing costs, sustainable shopping and saving energy in the home amongst other approaches. Environmentally friendly goodies will be given out at each session!
The Sustainability courses are running January-February and February-March 2023.
Next 4 week Workshop starting 20th February
Walks for Women
Information on Walks 2023 (PDF)
Short, weekly lead Walks for Women starting Thursday 12th of January 2023 from the WomenCentre.
These are short walks with the emphasis being very much on meeting new people, re-connecting with the environment, reducing social isolation, improving health, exploring the green spaces of Halifax and introducing women to the range of activities at The Outback Community garden and the services of the Women’s Centre. We will be walking at a relaxed pace; tailored to individuals.
Free short 1,5hrs walks for women this winter
Continuing through to March 2023, there will be short walks with the emphasis being very much on meeting new people, re-connecting with the environment, improving health, exploring the green spaces of Halifax and introducing women to the range of activities at The Outback Community garden.
The walks will be at a relaxed pace, tailored to individuals.
Please call the WomenCentre for more Information and to book your place: 01422 386500
All walks start from WomenCentre, 23 Silver Street, Halifax, HX1 1JN
Think WIDEN to prevent burglary
Nearly two-thirds (65%)* of us are worried about our home being broken into, yet there are simple, proven measures we can all take to halve our chances of being burgled.
Learn more at ourwatch.org.uk/thinkwiden
We have joined forces with our longstanding primary smart security partner, ERA Home Security, to bring you our Think WIDE(N) burglary prevention campaign highlighting the simple, evidence-based WIDE measures which can be taken in any home on a variety of budgets.
At Neighbourhood Watch, we also believe neighbours keeping an eye out for each other is key to reducing burglary, so we’ve extended the WIDE acronym to WIDE(N):
· W: WINDOWS: Keep your windows locked
· I: INTERIOR: Put inside lights on a timer/smart bulb
· D: DOORS: Double or deadlock your doors
· E: EXTERIOR: Put outside lights on a sensor
· (N): NEIGHBOURS: Keep an eye out for your neighbours
Leaving home? Use this free home security checklist to leave your home safe and secure.
John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch Network, said ‘We know that by securing your home’s windows, interior, doors, exterior and keeping an eye out for neighbours, we can all give ourselves the best chance of preventing burglary.
If you have been burgled recently, criminals are familiar with your home and may come back once you’ve had time to purchase new items. Act soon to avoid being retargeted – use the WIDE(N) advice for a combination of simple yet effective prevention measures.’Learn more at ourwatch.org.uk/thinkwiden
Support for all dealing with domestic abuse from Calderdale Staying Safe
Calderdale Staying Safe is here for any individual aged 16+ who experience domestic or relationship abuse.
Our service is free and confidential, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, disability, religion or ethnic origin.
A diverse, experienced and skilled staff of female and male advisers is here to listen and where necessary, signpost you to the right organisations.
If English isn’t your first language, we may have advisers who can speak your language or access a team of interpreters.
You do not have to suffer in silence
The service is open to female and male victims as well as members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Men can call 01422 323339 to make an appointment with a male victim support worker and can arrange a suitable venue at that time.
We know that is can be difficult for male victims to ask for support but please reach out if you need help.”
For more information or to make an appointment please call us.
Calls are answered between 9am & 5pm. There is a voicemail facility to leave a message at other times.
Free Drop In sessions for Women every Wednesday 10-12noon at the Women Centre
These drop-in sessions focus on:
- Domestic abuse support
- Safety advice
- Link to legal advice
VENUE : WomenCentre 23 Silver Street, Halifax, HX1 1JN
Please note: WomenCentre is a female only space.
Calderdale Staying Safe, Women Making Changes and Calderdale Counselling Team
Telephone: 01422 323339
OUR NEWS Neighbourhood Watch newsletter – January 2023 Edition
OUR NEWS – Neighbourhood Watch national newsletter for England and Wales
Click here to open the newsletter
We are pleased to bring you the first edition of OUR NEWS for 2023 – our newsletter for Neighbourhood Watch supporters across England and Wales.
This edition covers articles on the new government emergency alerts system, how to prevent burglary and protect your friends from romance fraud, understanding ‘secured by design’, offers from Patlock and Avast, how to avoid Amazon scams, how to find a trusted locksmith and more.
We hope you enjoy this edition as much as we enjoyed creating it.
Follow us.. ourwatch.org.uk / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn
Neighbourhoood Watch Network is a charity registered in England & Wales, CIO no: 1173349
Calderdale Lower Valley blog 